IF YOU GO

Put on your dancing shoes before heading downtown to Chattanooga Market this Sunday, June 2.

One of the market's most popular theme days, Swingfest, will be held in First Tennessee Pavilion. A hardwood dance floor is being brought in, and Sweet Georgia Sound big band will play from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., says bandleader Mike LaRoche.

"Swingfest is always very popular. It's one of the events that a huge group of people look forward to every year. It's a fun event for all ages," says the Market's general manager, Paul Smith.

Sweet Georgia Sound is a 20-piece big band of experienced local musicians who get down with the sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and popular big bands of the 1940s.

LaRoche says the band will play favorites such as "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," "Sing, Sing, Sing," "In the Mood" and "Kansas City," and they'll be backing three vocalists: Greg Glover, Katherine Pody and Melanie Willets.

"Greg has several Frank Sinatra tunes he sings with us like 'New York, New York' and 'Come Fly With Me.' Melanie will be doing 'Fever' and a variety of sultry songs. Katherine sings 'S'wonderful' and 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore,' " LaRoche says.

Smith says the downtown market has had an "explosion" of new vendor interest this season, and a new vendor, Eagle's Nest Ranch, selling bison meat, will debut Sunday.

"Three times this year we've had more than 200 vendors, which is more than in the past, and we are getting new applications almost daily. We're excited about all the new product offerings we've been able to attract," he says.